Anisimova stuns Svitolina in Doha
Doha, February 25
Underdog Amanda Anisimova usurped No. 5 seed Elina Svitolina 6-3 6-3 in the second round at the Doha WTA Open.
The American teenager took just over an hour to dispatch her Ukrainian rival, who was a semifinalist at both Wimbledon and Roland Garros last season.
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Mexico City: Rafael Nadal is back in action for the first time since his Australian Open quarterfinal exit, heading the field at the Mexico Open in Acapulco. A two-time former champion of the tournament, Nadal was knocked out in the second round last year by mercurial Australian Nick Kyrgios. He will open his Acapulco campaign against compatriot Pablo Andujar. AFP
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Anisimova had to save two break points in the third game of the first set before holding. She then broke in the next game.
Meanwhile, recent finalist at Dubai, Elena Rybakina came from a set down against Sorana Cirstea to win 3-6 6-3 6-1 in a first round match.
A string of lower seeds fell in the first round on Monday. American Allison Riske fell to compatriot Jennifer Brady 7-6(12) 1-6 7-6(7) in 2 hours and 47 minutes.
Croatian Petra Martic, a semifinalist in Dubai last week, lost 4-6 6-1 6-2 to Czech Barbora Strycova. Donna Vekic lost 6-4 7-5 to Pole Iga Swiatek. Marketa Vondrousova won the first set but she subsided 1-6 6-3 6-2 to China’s Saisai Chena. — AFP
